Event Details

Aging in Place: From Design Research to Concept

Few of us go into our later days willingly and almost all of us will require some level of support or assistance as we transition from independent to dependent living. The support may be for our mental wellbeing, physical health, emotional balance, or likely some combination of them all – but what is certain is that we rarely go through it alone. Growing old will invariably impact the people around us who love us most, and it’s likely to be one of the hardest things we will ever do. frog Design Research Director Jon Freach will present a project about "Aging in Place", sharing insights and concepts informed by ethnographic research, participatory design, and rapid prototyping.

Jon Freach

Jon has a 20-year background in design research and interaction design and has served in a broad range of roles, from designer to strategic planner and manager of organizational practices. At frog, Jon utilizes a variety of design research methods to help clients and project teams better understand what makes people tick. He then applies this insight to the design of products and services to create meaningful and lasting interactions. He’s served a diverse set of clientele from many industries including healthcare, automotive, education, financial services, energy, and retail.

Jon is also a founding professor at the Austin Center for Design (ac4d) and has lectured about design and innovation at a number of colleges and universities including Harvard Business School, The University of Texas McCombs School of Business, Southern Methodist University, and CEDIM in Monterrey, Mexico. He has published widely in the design and business communities, and frequently speaks on the subject of design research and interaction design. His articles have appeared in Interactions magazine, Design Mind, and The Atlantic.